Compared to this place, Wu City was a dump. Their tech wasn't advanced, yet they still managed to grow a variety of medicinal herbs. Before the apocalypse, America had been one of the world's top leaders in drug research, boasting the highest cancer survival rate in the world.
In China, certain types of cancer had survival rates of barely fifty percent, but in America, it could reach as high as ninety-five, even ninety-nine percent. That alone showed how powerful their medical system and technology once were.
Jing Shu and the others had come here to "find work," and only after seeing the data did they realize how desperately Austin needed professionals who could cultivate medicinal herbs.
Eiffel shrugged and said, "Now you see it. Austin's biggest shortage isn't equipment or extraction facilities, it's raw materials. As long as we have enough herbs, we can produce all kinds of urgently needed medicine."
That caught Jing Shu's curiosity. To be honest, she'd already planned to bring some American medicine back home. Domestic supplies were scarce, after all. Having real American drugs would sound more convincing than claiming she had some kind of 'family secret formula.'
Still, it was a bit sad. Before the apocalypse, there'd been that group of Chinese tourists who went to a certain island country just to buy smart toilet seats, only to discover they'd been made in China.
The agricultural base inside the castle was massive. To make better use of sunlight and energy, all the crops were planted on the second floor and rooftop.
Austin City had no shortage of power. Machines roared endlessly as dried carrots, tomatoes, eggplants, and other vegetables were processed and packed nonstop.
"This floor's mainly for drying and preserving produce as strategic reserves," Eiffel explained while greeting the passing supervisors and workers. "Of course, the best-quality crops go to Austin's upper management. Every day, we process several tons of fresh produce."
Jing Shu glanced around. The division of labor was efficient, almost fully automated, though more than a dozen workers were still adjusting machines. There was no way she could hypnotize or suggest her way through that many people. Her Rubik's Cube Space couldn't make one person fall asleep, then jump to the next.
So, stealing this entire production chain of interconnected equipment was impossible.
"There's over a hundred square meters of linked production systems here," she muttered quietly. "Taking it all would be a huge operation. I wonder if Qian Duoduo ever managed to get his hands on a full set like this in the last life."
She snapped a few discreet photos. She'd talk it over with Yang Yang later.
They were then led up to the second floor, where a soft, glowing material illuminated a vast planting area spanning hundreds of square meters, with more crops growing on the raised platforms above.
But instead of being impressed, Jing Shu frowned.
The vegetables here were all mutated, and they looked horrifying. Huge tomatoes sprouted clusters of seedlings, eggplants grew conjoined like twisted chains, and mushrooms pierced right through other plants. Some fruits were fused together, some leaves grew straight out of the fruit—it was a grotesque mess of contradictions.
Their colors were off too, spotted with green hues that normal crops didn't have. Even Xiao Dou, who'd been happily following her around, scratched the ground and glared at the vegetables. She didn't seem interested at all and even spat twice in disgust.
"These are newly developed crops?" Jing Shu asked, puzzled. "Doesn't look like you've mass-produced much."
Eiffel shook her head. "No, these grow naturally. That's part of why we can't cultivate medicinal herbs. Dr. B said the material he used to make this glowing light still has defects. It gives off mild radiation, which caused the mutations. But the radiation's harmless—we've tested it professionally. There's plenty of everyday radiation that doesn't hurt humans. These vegetables are perfectly safe to eat once sterilized at high temperatures."
She sighed. "Still, while vegetables can survive here, medicinal herbs are much pickier. Only a few hardy ones grow. Most can't take this environment."
Jing Shu squinted up at the soft light. Her ears caught a faint, eerie hum, almost like the plants themselves were crying. Goosebumps prickled her arms. Her instincts screamed that these light-grown crops weren't as harmless as they seemed.
But since the Americans had already tested them and claimed there were no side effects… who knew? For some reason, she suddenly remembered the nuclear radiation leak on that island years ago—how the locals wouldn't eat the crops near the area, yet sold them abroad. So many people had fallen ill or died of cancer from it.
"You mean the guy who developed these wall materials is… Dr. B?" she asked.
Eiffel nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, yes! He's a genius. Lately, he's been worried sick about the herb issue too. If you can help, I'll introduce you to him myself."
Jing Shu rubbed her chin. Dr. B, huh? She wanted to meet him. Maybe he was the key to uncovering the secret behind Austin Castle's walls.
"If it's because of the radiation, then why not plant the herbs outside instead?" she asked.
Eiffel led the group further in, replying, "Because all the seeds have already been exposed to radiation. It's nearly impossible to find any new, untainted medicinal seeds now."
"Wait, what's that short tree? It looks really lush," Jing Shu asked, pointing at a small tree fenced off and carefully protected.
It was just one little tree, but it was treated like royalty. Despite being only about human height, it was the healthiest and most vibrant plant in the whole base, its branches heavy with fruit.
"Oh, that's our leader's beloved Geisha coffee tree," Eiffel said proudly. "It's the most expensive coffee in the world—three hundred fifty dollars per pound. It was transplanted here years ago for a fortune and was almost dead, but ever since it came here, it's been thriving like crazy. She's the queen of this place."
It sounded impressive, but Jing Shu thought, It's just a coffee tree, isn't it?
Eiffel's eyes sparkled. "Its aroma blooms like fireworks, evolving with every sip. You can taste lemon, citrus, even strawberry juice. It's fruity rather than bitter, with floral notes that linger forever. I was lucky enough to try it once. It was divine! Unfortunately, we still lack proper coffee-roasting technology."
Jing Shu wasn't that interested, though she did think about planting one in her Rubik's Cube Space. Maybe someday she'd get to drink her own coffee.
But something about it nagged at her. The feeling was oddly familiar. So she checked her Cube Space to be sure.